Global Model of Aerosol Processes (GLOMAP)

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GLOMAP is a flexible aerosol microphysics model. There are two GLOMAP flavours: GLOMAP-bin is a comprehensive sectional (bin) model and GLOMAP-mode is a faster modal version. GLOMAP-bin was developed as a full-complexity model able to calculate the details of the aerosol number size distribution on a global scale. GLOMAP-mode was developed later as a faster code for inclusion in climate and weather models where computational efficiency is paramount.

Throughout the development, we have maintained consistency between the two models, allowing us to adjust the performance of the modal model, as decribed in our bin versus mode comparison paper.

GLOMAP in different host models

GLOMAP is built into several host models, enabling us to tackle a wide range of science problems:

TOMCAT Global Chemical Transport Model: The TOMCAT CTM is a global chemistry and aerosol model that uses analysed meteorology to transport and remove the aerosol without including feedbacks on the weather and climate. We use it as a fast model to understand aerosol processes and compare to observations. Most of our aerosol research to date has been done with GLOMAP-TOMCAT, using both the bin and mode versions.

HadGEM-UKCA: UKCA is a chemistry-aerosol-climate model built on the Met Office Unified Model (UM). Different configurations of the same model are used across all time and space scales. So far, GLOMAP-mode has been built into the global configuration of the UM for climate research (the so-called HadGEM model used by the Met Office and UK community for its climate prediction). We are now working with the Met Office to use the model also for weather research at very high resolution.

ECMWF-IFS: The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Integrated Forecasting System is the comprehensive earth-system model developed at ECMWF and the basis for all the data assimilation and forecasting activities. GLOMAP-mode has been implemented in the IFS as part of the EU MACC project to produce operational aerosol products.